R minus 28 days!!

The “R” stands for Ramadaan and there are approximately 28 days remaining (I don’t care what ISNA says, my Ramadaan starts with the sighting of the moon on the global scale, refer here and here for more info on what I am referring to, insha-Allah I will post something up regarding this soon from a few notes from lectures on fiqh of Ramadaan, as we approach Ramadaan)

Insha-Allah this is a reminder to myself first and everyone else as well!

Prepare for Ramadan as the Prophet (Sal Allahu alayhi wa Salaam) used to do by fasting a great deal during the month of Sha’baan (which is now)!

Also the issue of the 15th of Sha’baan can be found in many places. Some support it as a night of extra blessings, therefore link to it extra acts of worship that they say should or could be done. So the following are a few Pro-15h of Sha’ban articles and a few that say that there aren’t anything authentic narrations that support this night’s extra blessedness. Read the articles and decide fro yourself insha-Allah.

Pro: This one is by Mufti Taqi Usmani, who needs no introduction as he is very well known specially amongst the Hanafis and Deobandis from the Sub continent. He has this good article here (http://www.albalagh.net/general/shaban.shtml) that supports this night as a time of extra blessings. The first part is excellent and lists the importance of the month of Sha’baan.

The others that say that this night of the 15th of Sha’baan has no basis or authentic narratiosn to support it can be found in the following links-

Allahu A’lam what the truth of the matter is, I follow the opinion that there isn’t any authentic textual evidence to support it. Read for yourself and decide for yourself insha-Allah.

The main focus of this post is to remind everyone to prepare for Ramadaan. My advice and that which I intend to do insha-Allah i as follows-

Make dua’a and dhikr like the one above mentioned int he header or one can maybe get some from this website here or if you live in Houston then request the MSA at University of Houston for a dua’a book and they should have many of these in the office, you can arrange to come pick it up. You can email me to let me know if you want one.

Begin fasting as much as you can during this month, so that during Ramadaan you can step it up even more to get even more thawaab and ajr insha-Allah.

Start reading the Quran as much as you can, so in Ramadan you can focus on the Quran even more insha-Allah.

Try to go to as many circles of knowledge as possible as many of the ibaada as this is the tradition of the salaf according to many. Ramadaan is primarily and strictly for ibaada according to them. And taraweeh prayers usually drain many of the Imaams energy. So you shoudlnt expect many islamic knowledge programs.

Refresh your fiqh of fasting and Ramadaan. I’m sure may people either have books about the fiqh or have notes from classes they attended, if they don’t then you can access free lectures on fiqh of fasting and Ramadaan here at Salim Morgan’s website. I actually mostly follow these rulings except on a few issues. Set aside about 8-9 hours, you can split it up in a week to finish about 3 lectures on this topic.

Once you get this down then focus on more and more dua’a, sincerity and intentions, and try to build your khushoo in these matters. You can refer to works like Madarij As Salikeen of Ibn Al Qayyim (d. 751 AH) or Minhaj Al Qasideen of Ibn Qudamah Al Maqdisee (d. 620 AH) to get pointers regarding issues of khushoo and tazkiya in these areas insha-Allah.

This is just advice from a brother, not a scholarly article or discourse and is meant primarily and specifically for myself and then everyone else insha-Allah.

Allah , out of His infinite mercy, has created varying seasons throughout the year for people’s benefit. Similarly, Allah has also assigned different seasons for particular ibadah. These are special times designated by Allah for increased Ibadah.

Of course, a Mu’min is expected to be performing Ibadah continuously throughout his or her life, but these special opportunities exist so that every believer may get a chance to attain closeness to Allah and earn manifold rewards.

One of these blessed opportunities is the month of Shabaan. It is reported in authentic hadith that Rasulullah used to particularly increase his Ibadah in this month. It is recorded in Sahih al Bukhari :

Aishah radhiallahu anhaa narrates: The Blessed Prophet fasted for so long [so many days] we thought he would never break his fast. Then he would do iftar (for so many days) we thought he will never fast. I have never seen the Blessed Prophet fast for a whole month besides the month of Ramadan and keep more fasts [outside of Ramadan] than in the month of Shabaan. (Reported in Bukhari, Muslim, Nisai, Abu Dawood)

Usamah bin Zaid narrates that I said:

Oh Blessed Prophet ! I do not see you fasting any month more than the month of Shabaan. The Blessed Prophet replied:
People are ignorant of it, being between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. All deeds are raised towards Rabb ul Alameen in that month. Thus, I wish that my deeds are raised when I am fasting. (Reported in Nisai, Musnad Ahmad)

Aisha radhiallahu anhaa narrates that I never saw the Blessed Prophet fast in any month more than the month of Shabaan. He used to fast the whole month except for some days; in fact, he used to fast the whole month (of Shabaan). (Reported in Nisai, Abu Dawood, Musnad Ahmad)

Abu Huraira relates that Aisha radhiallahu anhaa narrated to them the hadith that the Blessed Prophet fasted the whole month of Shabaan. She said: I asked the Blessed Prophet : Oh Blessed Prophet , is Shabaan your most favorite month to fast? He replied: Allah assigns the year of death for each person (in the month of Shabaan), thus, I wish my death come when I am fasting. (The chain of narration is ranked “Hasan” in al-Targheeb wal Tarheeb and is also related in Musnad Abu Yala)
The following things are very clear from the several ahaadith above:
1. The month of Shabaan is a very important month and Shari’ah encourages us to perform optional Ibadah during this month
2. Rasulullah used to fast most of the month of Shabaan
3. In this month, all of the people’s deeds are presented to Allah
4. Rasulullah disliked for the people to neglect the importance of the month of Shabaan
5. In Shabaan, the list of all the people that are suppose to die in that year are handed over to the angels.
In addition to all of these virtues, there is particular emphasis for the 15th of Shabaan which is called Laylatul Bara’a. Although some people deny the importance of the 15th night of Shabaan; there are authentic ahaadith which clearly indicate its importance.

The following few hadith have been presented with scholarly critique in order to illustrate the special virtues of this night so people are not deprived of a great opportunity of Ibadah through which they can attain more nearness to Allah .
Hadith 1

It is related by Muaz bin Jabbal that the Blessed Prophet said: Allah looks over at his creation on the fifteenth night of Shabaan and forgives everyone but for two people: a polytheist and one who holds a grudge against people.
Imam Ibn Hibban has narrated this hadith in his Sahih, Imam Bayhaqi in his Shua’bal Imaan, Imam Tabarani in Al Mu’jam al Kabeer, & Abu Nu’aym in Al Hulya. Imam Haithami has also narrated this hadith in his Majmu’al Zawaid and after narrating it, he has commented that all of the people in the chain of narrators of the above hadith are trustworthy and this hadith is authentic.

This hadith is also narrated by Imam Mundhari in Al Targheeb wal Tarheeb, Imam Suyuti in Durrul Manthoor, & the late Shaykh Albani has also narrated this hadith in his Silsilah Sahiha (a book in which he has narrated only authentic hadith according to him.)
Hadith 2

It is related by Abu Thalaba that the Blessed Prophet said: On the 15th night of Shabaan, Allah looks over at his creation and forgives all the believers except for the one who begrudges and hates. He leaves them in their enmity.
This hadith is narrated by Bayhaqi (raheemullah) in Shubal Imaan, Hafiz Ibn Abi Asim in Kitabus Sunnah, Imam Suyuti in Durrel Manthoor, and Shaykh Albani confirms its authenticity by narrating it in his Silsilah Sahiha.
Hadith 3

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Amar has narrated that Rasulullah has said, “Allah on the 15th night of Shabaan looks at the people and He forgives all believers except for two kinds of people: 1) Someone who holds a grudge against others and 2) someone who has taken an innocent life.
This hadith is narrated by Imam Mundhiri in Al-Targheeb wal Tarheeb, Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, and Hafiz Al Haithami in Majmual Zawaid. Shaykh Albani has narrated this hadith in his Silsilah Sahiha and after a lengthy discussion regarding its chain of narrators; he concludes that this hadith is Hassan.

In addition to the above, we find most of the great scholars have confirmed the importance and the virtue of the 15th night of Sha’ban. Following are some quotations.
1) Sheikh Mansoor Bahoti Hanbali says in his well known book of Hanbali fiqh Kash-shaful Qina, Vol1:444

As for the 15th night of Shabaan, it is a night of virtue. Some of the salaf prayed the whole night, although establishing congregational prayers (on this night) is bida’t (an innovation). And the reward of ibadah on the 15th night of Shabaan is the same as the reward of ibadah on the night of E’id.
2) Imam Shafi rahmatullahi alayh said in Al-Umm, Vol. 1 p. 231:

Imam Shafi said, “of the narrations that have reached us, verily, dua is accepted on five nights: the night of Juma’, the night of E’id Al-Adha, the night of E’id Al-Fitr, the first night of Rajab, and the 15th night of Shabaan”.
3) Shaikh Abu-Ishaq Ibrahim Al-Hanbali says in Al-Mubdi’:

It is desirable to revive the time (with salat and ibadah) between the two E’sha’s (Maghrib and E’sha) because of the ahaadith. Many scholars say: Similarly with the night of Ashura, the first night of Rajab, and the 15th night of Shabaan.
4) Imam Shurunbulali Hanafi rahmatullahi alayh says in Noorul Eidhah P.63:

It is desirable to revive the last ten nights of Ramadan, two nights of Eidain (Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha), ten nights of Zil Hijjah, and the 15th night of Shabaan.
5) Imam Ibn-Taimiyyah rahmatullahi alayh was asked about the importance of the 15th night of Sha’ban. He replied:

As for the 15th night of Shabaan, there are many narrations and Athar (quotes from the Sahabah ) regarding its virtue. It has been reported of the salaf that they prayed in this night. Therefore, praying alone on this night, having precedence in the salaf, is sufficient evidence and something of this kind surely cannot be denied.
6) At another occasion, Imam Ibn-Taimiyyah rahmatullahi alayh was asked the same question and he replied:

If one prays on this night alone or in a select company of people as many groups amongst the salaf did, then it is good. As for congregating in the masjid upon a fixed prayer like gathering upon a salat with 100 rakats, and reciting Surah Ikhlas a thousand times, this is bida’t. None of the scholars extolled this and Allah knows best.
7) Shaikh Mubarakpuri writes in Tuhfatul Ahwadhi Vol.3 P.365:

You should know that a sufficient number of hadith has been narrated confirming the virtues of the 15th night of Shabaan. All these ahaadith prove that it has a basis.
After relating many Ahadith about the importance of this night he says:

The sum of all these ahadith is strong evidence against the one who thinks there is no proof of the virtue of the 15th night of Shabaan and Allah knows best.
May Allah give all of us tawfeeq to take advantage of this great opportunity and blessing of Allah . Ameen!!!

Chapter 4: Repayment1.Missing a day of fast in Ramadhan2.When does one make up a missed fast3.If missed fast are not made up until few dats before next Ramadhan4.Missed fasts first or voluntary?

Chapter 5: Recommended, Disliked, and Impermissible Days of Fasting1.Recommended Every Other Day Sawn Dawood2.The three white days of every Islamic month3.Six days of Shawwaal4.Month of Muharram and the 10th5.Ten days of Dhil Hijja and that of Arafat6.Disliking of the month of Rajab7.Disliking of the day of Friday8.Disliking of the 30th of Shabaan9.Impermissibility of fasting on the two Eids10.Completing of a voluntary fast is not Wajib